Canada and Finland meet up on Monday for what will likely lead to a spot in the 4 Nations Face-Off final.
The pregame narrative: The moment is big for both nations and I'm anticipating a pair of veterans to come through for Canada. Brad Marchand and Sidney Crosby have plenty of experience in pivotal moments, and I expect both to deliver against Finland.
Check out the latest Canada vs. Finland 4 Nations Face-Off props for Feb. 17.
Canada vs. Finland props
Best Bet: Marchand anytime goal (+290)
The margins are slim in a tournament like this.
There were several takeaways from Canada's 3-1 loss to the USA. One of them is that Marchand should be seeing more ice time.
The Boston Bruins captain totalled a minuscule 8:23 of game action in Saturday's loss but still found a way to be one of Canada's most impactful forwards. Marchand was able to skate through Team USA's defensive front on several occasions and create chances for the Canadians.
I expect Marchand's role on the team to increase significantly with the team needing results immediately.
Luckily for head coach Jon Cooper, Marchand already has chemistry with a pair of Canada's top-six forwards.
Marchand trains with Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon in the offseason, making him a natural choice to slide onto their line.
The alternate captain already has a goal in this tournament despite playing fewer than 20 minutes in total. Even a slight increase in opportunity will provide value on this number.
Key stat: Only Connor McDavid, Mark Stone and Sam Bennett had more shots than Marchand (two) against Team USA.
Quick picks
Crosby to score (+200): Crosby is serving as a playmaker for the Canadians but his opportunities remain appealing when scoping out players in this market.
The captain is playing on the team's first line and top power-play unit. Seeing the ice with MacKinnon and McDavid, among other top players, usually has Crosby spending most of his shift in the offensive zone.
Crosby also has a reputation for scoring monumental goals on the international stage. Keep an eye on the veteran superstar with Canada needing a win to advance to the final.
4 Nations Face-Off picks made at 11:14 a.m. ET on 02/16/2025.
